What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Masking
C12-14 Alketh-12
EmulsifyingOctyldodeceth-16
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
Perfuming
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Humectant
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract
AstringentUlmus Davidiana Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract
TonicPueraria Lobata Root Extract
HumectantHydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Zinc Sulfate
Antimicrobial
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingCholesterol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Potassium C11-15 Alkyl Phosphate
Ceramide Ng
Skin Conditioning
Phytosphingosine
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone
Emollient
Ceramide As
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide Ns
Skin Conditioning
Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
HumectantHydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Potassium Hyaluronate
Skin ConditioningHyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol
HumectantSodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Glycine
Buffering
Glutamic Acid
Humectant
Glutamine
Skin ConditioningLysine
Skin ConditioningLeucine
Skin ConditioningMethionine
Skin ConditioningValine
MaskingSerine
Masking
Cysteine
Antioxidant
Citrulline
Skin ConditioningAsparagine
MaskingAspartic Acid
Masking
Isoleucine
Skin ConditioningAlanine
Masking
Arginine
Masking
Ornithine
Skin ConditioningTaurine
BufferingTyrosine
MaskingThreonine
Tryptophan
MaskingPhenylalanine
Masking
Proline
Skin Conditioning
Histidine
Humectant
Ceramide EOP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Salicylic Acid, C12-14 Alketh-12, Octyldodeceth-16, Pentylene Glycol, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Citrate, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Ceramide NP, Zinc Sulfate, Triethylhexanoin, Cholesterol, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Cetearyl Alcohol, Potassium C11-15 Alkyl Phosphate, Ceramide Ng, Phytosphingosine, Dimethicone, Ceramide As, Ceramide AP, Ceramide Ns, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Glycine, Glutamic Acid, Glutamine, Lysine, Leucine, Methionine, Valine, Serine, Cysteine, Citrulline, Asparagine, Aspartic Acid, Isoleucine, Alanine, Arginine, Ornithine, Taurine, Tyrosine, Threonine, Tryptophan, Phenylalanine, Proline, Histidine, Ceramide EOP
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Humectant
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-11
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingAllantoin
Skin Conditioning
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Triethylene Glycol
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingWater, Glycolic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Tranexamic Acid, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-11, Phenoxyethanol, Saccharide Isomerate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Allantoin, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Panthenol, Triethylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.
There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.
D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.
Learn more about PanthenolSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
